大象传媒

Fatima and Harry learn how castles defend against attack by hearing the stories of two famous sieges: that of Dover Castle in 1265 and of Edinburgh Castle in 1571.

Famous sieges

In this episode Fatima and Harry learn how castles defended against attack by hearing the stories about two famous sieges - that of Dover Castle in 1265 and of Edinburgh Castle, beginning in 1571.

The animation explores the techniques used to attack castles and some of the strategies that were employed in defence - including having a source of water inside the castle, huge stores for food and plenty of livestock within the castle walls.

The film also references 鈥榯he lives of significant individuals in the past鈥nd events', including two women - Eleanor de Montford and Mary Queen of Scots.

Depending on where in the UK this is being taught, it would also meet the National Curriculum objective of 鈥榮ignificant places in their locality鈥.

Back to top

Further resources

Download / print the Notes including illustrations, photos and worksheets (pdf)

Teacher's Notes

Click to display the image full-size

Dover Castle

Click to display the image full-size

Castle outline drawing to colour

Click to display the image full-size

Eleanor de Montford - outline drawing to colour

Click to display the image full-size

Edinburgh Castle
Back to top

Teacher's Notes

Before the video

The teacher could show the class a picture of a castle. The pupils can then work in small groups to come up with as many ideas as possible for attacking it.

Each group can then present their ideas to the class. The teacher can use this to explain some elements of chronology - somethings hadn鈥檛 been invented when the castle was built!

During the video

The teacher can use the video to run a 鈥榞uess what happens next鈥 style activity as the story of the sieges continues.

The teacher could support pupil thinking by providing statements and asking if pupils think this will happen / not happen and explain their answers.

This will help to develop the historical skill of interpretation and also helps with the predictive skill used to develop reading.

After the video

After the video the teacher could use this resource to practice storytelling which leads to writing.

Pupils could use the stimulus of the video - perhaps even the characters involved - to tell a fictional story about their castle being attacked (or being the attackers).

This can then be used to practise writing sentences based on their story.

The video also brings in different parts of the UK - Dover, London and Edinburgh.

This could be used as part of a geography activity to target the objective of 鈥榥ame, locate and identify characteristics of the four countries and capital cities of the United Kingdom and its surrounding seas鈥. Pupils could draw pictures of the castles on a map of the UK, labelling the countries and identifying the flags.

Build a castle! This would fit with the Art NC objective of 鈥榰sing a range of materials creatively to design and make products鈥o use drawing鈥nd sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination鈥o develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space'.

This film is relevant for teaching History at KS1 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 1st Level in Scotland.

Back to top

More from this series

The Features of a Castle. video

Fatima and Harry hear about the key features of a castle - such as thick walls, towers, drawbridges and moats.

The Features of a Castle

The Legend of King Arthur. video

Fatima and Harry learn the difference between fact and fiction - hence the difference between history and myth.

The Legend of King Arthur

The Real Life of a Knight. video

Fatima and Harry learn some more of the many ways life in medieval times is different from today.

The Real Life of a Knight
Back to top